The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1887-10-29
SCENE AT LINcoLNs NOMINATION.
Excitement Which Pervaded the Repub.
lican National Convention IN 1860.

Excitement Which Pervaded the Repub.
lican National Convention in 1860.
Though it was not expected to be de-
cisive, the very first ballot foreshadowed
accurately the final result. The '.com-
plimentary' candidates received the trib-
ute of admiration from their respective
states. Vermont voted for Collamer, and
New Jersey for Dayton, each solid. Penn
sylyania's compliment to Cameron was
shorn of votes, of which went at once
for Lincoln. Ohio divided her compl-
ment, "a for Chase, 4 for Mclean, and at
once gave Lincoln her remaining votes.
Missouri voted solid for her candidate,
Bates, who also received a scattering
tribute from other delegations But all
these compliments were of little avail
to their recipients, for far above each
lowered the aggregates of the leading
candidates: Seward, 173 12; Lincoln, 102.
In the ground swell of suppressed ex-
citement which pervaded the convention
there was no time to analyze this vote;
nevertheless, delegates and spectators felt
the fuil force of its premonition; to all
who desired the defeat of Seward it
pointed out the winning man with un-
erring certainty. Another little wrangle
over some disputed and protesting dele
gate made the audience almost furious at
the delay, and ''Call the rollp' sounded
from thousand throats.
A second ballot was begun at last, and,
obeying a force as sure as the law of
gravitation, the former complimentary
votes came rushing to Lincoln. The
whole 10 votes of Collamer, A from
Cameron, from Chase and Mclean,
were now cast for him, followed by a
scatter of additions along the whole roll
call. In this ballot Lincoln gained 20
votes, Seward only II. The faces of the
New York delegation whitened as the
balloting progressed and as the torrent of
Lincoln's popularity became river. The
result of the second ballot was: Seward,
1874 1-2; Lincoln, 191; scattering, 80 1-2.
When the vote of Lincoln was announced
there was a tremendous burst of ap-
plause, which the chairman prudently,
but with difficulty controlled and silenced.
The third ballot was begun amid a
breathless suspense; hundreds of pencils
kept pace with the roll call, and nervously
marked the changes on their tally sheets.
The Lincoln figures steadily swelled and
grew. Votes came to him from all the
other candidates. 1-2 from Seward, 2
from Cameron. 13 from Bates, IS from
Chase, from Dayton, s from Mclean,
from Clay. Lincoln had gained so 1-2,
Seward had lost 1-2. Long before the
official tellers footed up their columns
spectators and delegates rapidly made the
reckoning and knew the result: Lincoln,
231 1-2, Seward, $780, Counting the
scattering votes, 465 ballots had been
cast, and 233 were necessary to choice;
only 1-2 votes more were needed to
make a nomination.
A profound stiffness suddenly fell upon
the wigwam; the men ceased to talk and
the ladies to futter their fans; one could
distinctly hear the scratching of pencils
and the ticking of telegraph instruments
on the reporters tables. No announce
ment had been made by the chair;
changes were in order, and it was only
a question of seconds who should speak
first. While every one was leaning for
ward in intense expectancy, Mr.. Cartier
sprang upon his chair and reported
change of four Ohio votes from Chase to
Lincoln. There was moments pause,
a teller waved his tally sheet toward the
skyight and shouted name, and then
the boom of cannon on the roof of the
wigwam announced the nomination to
the crowds in the streets, where shouts
and salutes took up and spread the news.
In the convention the Lincoln river now
became an inundation. Amid the wild
est hurrahs, delegation after delegation
changed its vote to the victor.
A graceful custom prevails in orderly
American conventions, that the chair
man of the vanquished delegation is first
to greet the nominee with a short adj
dress of party fealty and promise of
party support. Mr.. Evarts, the spokes-
man for New York, essayed promptly to
perform this courteous office, but was de-
layed while by the enthusiasm and con-
fusion. The din at length subsided and
the presiding officer announced that on
the third ballot Abraham Lincoln, of
Illinois, received 364 votes, and sis Sc
lected as your candidate for president of
the United States" Then Mr.. Evarts,
in voice of unconcealed emotion, but
with admirable dignity and touching
eloquence, speaking for Seward and for
New York, moved to make the nomina-
ton unanimous Century.